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Pirates sign seven Minor League free agents

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed the following five players to minor league contracts, which includes an invitation to Big League camp.

Travis Ishikawa (1B) - Went a combined 2-for-19 (.105) with one RBI in seven big league games between Baltimore and New York (AL) in 2013...Also hit .316 (56-for-177) with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 31 RBI in 49 games for Triple-A Norfolk and .250 (30-for-120) with five doubles, two triples, two homers and 23 RBI in 34 games for Triple-A Charlotte last season...Has a .260 career batting average (201-for-774) with 42 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs and 111 RBI in 382 Major League games with San Francisco (2006-2010), Milwaukee (2012), Baltimore (2013) and the Yankees (2013).

Michael Martinez (OF/INF) - Hit .300 (73-for-243) with 11 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 28 RBI and 35 runs scored in 71 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2013...Also hit .175 (7-for-40) with three RBI in 29 games with the Phillies last season...Has a .187 career average (68-for-364) with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 34 RBI and 40 runs scored in 162 career games in the big leagues with the Phillies from 2011-2013.

Daniel Schlereth (LHP) - Went 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA (11.0ip/1er) in 12 relief appearances with Triple-A Norfolk last season...Has gone 5-3 with a 1.71 ERA (121.1ip/23er), four saves and 156 strikeouts in 101 games (six starts) during his minor league career...Has posted a 5-6 record with one save and a 4.36 ERA (93.0ip/45er) in 94 big league games with Arizona (2009) and Detroit (2010-2012).

Adam Wilk (LHP) - Pitched for the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Futures League in 2013, where he went 4-8 with a 4.12 ERA (91.2ip/42er) and 70 strikeouts in 17 games ...Has a career record of 30-23 with five complete games (one shutout), a 2.66 ERA (493.1ip/146er) and 385 strikeouts in 83 games (83 starts) in his minor league career...Has gone 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA (24.1ip/18er) in eight games (three starts) in the big leagues with Detroit from 2011-2012.

Kyle McPherson (RHP) - Was limited to two starts with Triple-A Indianapolis in 2013 before undergoing ulnar collateral ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery on 7/10...Was designated for assignment by the Pirates on 11/25...Has spent his entire career with Pittsburgh since being selected by the Pirates in the 14th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft...Has a career record of 38-33 with a 3.57 ERA (602.1ip/239er) and 509 strikeouts in 126 games (104 starts) at the minor league level...Has also gone 0-2 with a 2.73 ERA (26.1ip/8er) in 10 games (three starts) in the Major Leagues with the Pirates.

The Pirates also signed left-handed pitcher Brandon Mann and right-handed pitcher Elvin Ramirez to minor league contracts (no invitations to big league camp). Mann went to big league camp with Washington last season before pitching in Japan. Ramirez went a combined 1-1 with one save and a 5.46 ERA (61.0ip/37er) in 49 games (one start) between Salt Lake City and Arkansas in 2013.